Tazewell County voters weathered the election day rain to head out to the polling location at Folepi’s Market Place in East Peoria.
Voters reported moving in and out of the polling place fairly quickly, waiting in line for just a few minutes before casting their ballot. The parking lot at Folepi’s was over three quarters full shortly after noon Tuesday.
“The process was very smooth,” said voter Richard Messer. “I took five minutes to get in there, vote and get out.”
Messer says he voted primarily Republican on his ballot, citing the economy as a chief concern.
“I understand there’s only so much that can be done immediately, but I think long term goals, it lasts for a long time, so the budgets impact down the road,” he said. “I think that the decisions made the next couple of years off of this election will have a good impact on hopefully reducing, or at least maintaining, keep the current level of cost of living.”
Voter Keith Thibo also turned in a ballot full of votes for Republican candidates. While he mentions the economy as a concern, he’s looking for any sort of change from the current administration.
“I just don’t feel we can afford four more years of what we just went through,” Thibo said. “And I, on every level, whether you’re talking about economy or security or border or whatever, so I guess you’d have to say I’m a pretty good Republican.”
Voters from the other side of the aisle also gave their chief reasons for their decision, including matters of personality as well as policy.
“I think probably the number one issue is, is just how, how the candidates sort of hold themselves,” said voter Gregory Martin. “I guess I think [Donald] Trump doesn’t really give a lot of respect to a lot of people. Again, Kamala [Harris] sometimes doesn’t either. But, I just, I felt like the respect wasn’t there from his side.”
Some Republican voters felt the inverse was true.
“I just am really excited about [Donald Trump’s] truthfulness and the fact that he has a plan for our country that seems like it is going to advance us and not hold us back and will keep us from wars and things like that,” said voter Jamie Sharpe.
Michael and Pamela Westerman both cast their vote for Kamala Harris. They mentioned issues like fair and free elections and women’s reproductive health rights as deciding factors in their vote.
Like other voters WCBU spoke with, Pamela expressed some anxiety about election day.
“I feel like we have pretty fair elections. I’m not sure about the legal lawsuits that go on afterwards,” she said “I think some of them are really frivolous and without standing.”
All the voters WCBU spoke with at Folepi’s Tuesday afternoon said the process was smooth and efficient. However, some will be excited when the entire election is finished.
“I’m ready for it to be over,” Martin said. “I’m tired of seeing the ads. I’m tired of seeing people bicker on TV and online. I’m ready for it to be done.”
The polling place at Folepi’s Market Place, as well as the polling places in all of Tazewell’s 19 precincts, will be open through 7 p.m.
